Dell & MS Office 2010

I�m thinking about a new Dell desktop. (I�ve found the next-day call-outs useful over the years!) I depend upon Microsoft Office but looking at some Dell models I note the following:

�Microsoft Office does not come with a recovery disk.�

And this is for the more expensive MS Office suites!

How would I (a) choose my MS Office options when I got the PC? and (b) restore Office after a reformat?

I'm guessing Dell 'may' give you the option to create your own recovery disks like they do with the OS (if you don't but them) - all done to save a few pounds which is all rather cheapskate!

If you qualify I can highly recommend www.software4students.co.uk where you can get the full MS Office Professional s/w for around £37 against the RRP of £400+!

You can be a parent or grandparent to buy on their behalf

Also some laptops come with a "starter" version of Office.

I have no idea how badly locked down it is but you can buy the update code off Amazon for £75 to make it the full home version.

So need to make sure you know what version is coming with it.

MS Office is a short reinstall. It's not like the data is being written over in a reinstall.

I think what you do to reinstall is to download the trial version of MS Office (using the bandwidth for which you've paid) and then key in the serial number Dell have provided when you purchase a PC with an Office suite. Yes! It is cheapskate! I've always liked Dell but I'd prefer to buy elsewhere now if I could find equally good follow-up care. Also Dell have option for small desktops and all-in-ones that I don't spy anywhere else.

That's true when you have a disk but this is the form now when buying a Dell machine:

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/windows/t/4024702-r...